Clarisonic

As you know, I am a big fan of my Clarisonic, even putting it in places where the sun don't shine. And judging by the number of glowing reviews from readers, they're loving it, too. Reader Lovelie says it's all about finding the right cleanser:

I will admit that I had some problems with the Clarisonic when I first got it. I was using a really harsh cleanser with it and ended up overstimulating my skin and breaking out . . . BADLY! For the last few years, I have been plagued with blackheads under the skin but no acne. Well after using the Clarisonic with my MdForte cleanser, I had acne. It was terrible. So I stopped using it for a while, let my skin heal, and switched cleansers to a gentler cleanser, Philosophy Purity. Well, this was the magic combination, because my skin has clarified itself to a point that it hasn't been in years. Stubborn blackheads that wouldn't BUDGE pre-Clarisonic made their way to the surface where eventually they just popped out. My conclusion is that you have to pick the right cleanser to go along with this.

For the record, I agree; using a glycolic cleanser with Clarisonic was a bit much, but a gentle cleanser worked wonders. BTW, it's the last day of our $500 gift certificate giveaway from Benefit. To enter, check out the rules — and be sure to write three reviews today to qualify for the contest. Just head over to Product Reviews and get going. Good luck!

Whether you're dropping hints for yourself or you're hoping to find the perfect gift for your mommy friend or own dear mom, here are a couple of ideas to get the hamster running.

Every mom totes around water or milk bottles for their wee ones. Keep her hydrated with her own sassy SIGG bottle ($22) so she can keep up the pace with all of the pitter-patter around the house. Babies aren't the only family members that should be BPA free!

For a special night out on the town or a festive New Year's Eve bash, help mama sparkle with a black sequined jacket ($86). Paired with blue jeans and a white tee, it's just enough to spruce up a casual ensemble.

Almost every new mother can tell you the luxury of baby soft skin from cuddling their newborn for hours on end. Unfortunately, the fountain of youth is yet to be found so we are still searching for man-made remedies to keep our skin buttery soft. Instead of constantly forking over cash for facials, invest in the Clarisonic Skincare Brush ($195). My girl BellaSugar can't get enough of it! Pretty soon, daddy will have a hard time telling the difference between the baby's bum and mama's mug.

For more ideas, be sure to check out HolidaySugar for all of our holiday coverage and gift guides.

I debated long and hard with this installment of the Clarisonic diaries. There's been a Clarisonic-buying trend at Sugar headquarters, and we all unanimously agree that it's improving our skin. When we congregate before meetings, we talk about our deep and abiding love for the gadget's pore-shrinking, skin-softening capabilities. I've even named mine Claire for short. Our cultlike devotion to this gadget is a little out of control.

Speaking of "out of control," this is where things get personal. Since Claire is waterproof, you can take her into the shower. It wasn't long before I realized that a little sonic cleansing on the neck and décolletage makes that skin so smooth and soft. This morning, as I was cleansing, I thought, "Ooh, my clavicle skin is as soft as a baby's bottom." Then I thought of Babyassface, and then — I think you know where this is going. If you dare, read more

I finally invested in the Clarisonic device that Bella has been raving about and rushed home to try it, only to find the instructions suggest charging the device for 24 hours before its first use. It was the ultimate luxury gadget letdown — all I wanted to do was test it, and I had to wait patiently.

Most battery experts claim you can prolong battery life by charging them fully before their inaugural use. It makes sense, but it's not always feasible (or fun!) to wait. Do you fully charge your gadgets before your first use?

Now that I've been using my Clarisonic ($195) for a few weeks, I think it may be time for an intervention. As dorky as this sounds, I now look forward to washing my face; the brush just leaves my skin so soft and smooth that it's hard not to get hooked.

Unfortunately, I learned a lesson the hard way. At first, I used the Clarisonic night and day, happily buzzing away dead skin. All went well at first, but within a week, my face was much shinier than usual by mid-afternoon. (And we're not talking the soft, dewy glow of youth, either.) Fortunately, after reducing my Clarisonic use to before-bedtime cleansing, my face responded well, and Exxon-Mobil is no longer harassing me to secure oil rights to my face.

A few more benefits are starting to sprout, too: My pores appear smaller because they're not so clogged, and on good days, my foundation-free skin looks healthy and fresh-faced. Plus, I went to visit my mom, and it's not just me who's crazy about Clarisonic; after using it just once, Mama Bella is dropping some heavy hints as to what she'd like for her birthday. But the question remains: Is Clarisonic worth the nearly $200 it costs? The answer to that — or my opinion, anyway — will be revealed next week.

There are two beauty gadgets people usually ask me about: No!No! and Clarisonic. As far as No!No! is concerned, you can read my review here. But until last week, I'd never tried Clarisonic ($195). The oscillating brush uses sonic technology, promising to remove six times more makeup than regular cleansing, while reducing the appearance of fine lines at the same time.

My buddy Philleif recently bought a Clarisonic, and he won't stop raving about it. (He may or may not have mocked me for being behind the times.) But now that I've been sent one to review, I'll keep you posted on whether his (and Oprah's) Clarisonic evangelizing is deserved. For my first thoughts, read more

The inventors of the infinitely amazing Sonicare toothbrush have now brought us the Clarisonic Sonic Skin Care Brush Kit. This cleansing brush is extremely gentle on your face, so you can use it everyday, even if you suffer from acne or rosacea. The super-soft bristles oscillate at 300 movements per second to open pores to remove dirt and oil. I love that it's water resistant, so you can use it in the shower while your pores are steamed and open.

Much the way the Sonicare is more effective for cleaning teeth, the Clarisonic is twice as effective as manual washing. Plus, since it increases product absorption, you only have to use a little bit of cleanser. Clarisonic is intended to reduce oily areas, dry skin patches, visible pores, and pimples for both men and women. You can buy the kit here for $195, which gets you a waterproof cordless brush handle, two brush heads, a countertop charger, and a 2-ounce daily cleanser, though you can use whatever cleanser you prefer. If it's anything like the Sonicare, this thing could change your life.